diff --git a/config/config_test.go b/config/config_test.go
index 273e8fb3353af..9ee7aa21c903d 100644
--- a/config/config_test.go
+++ b/config/config_test.go
@@ -475,6 +475,7 @@ func TestConfig_ParserInterfaceNewFormat(t *testing.T) {
 		require.True(t, ok)
 		// Get the parser set with 'SetParser()'
 		if p, ok := input.Parser.(*models.RunningParser); ok {
+			require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 			actual = append(actual, p.Parser)
 		} else {
 			actual = append(actual, input.Parser)
@@ -614,6 +615,7 @@ func TestConfig_ParserInterfaceOldFormat(t *testing.T) {
 		require.True(t, ok)
 		// Get the parser set with 'SetParser()'
 		if p, ok := input.Parser.(*models.RunningParser); ok {
+			require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 			actual = append(actual, p.Parser)
 		} else {
 			actual = append(actual, input.Parser)
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer_legacy/kafka_consumer_legacy_test.go b/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer_legacy/kafka_consumer_legacy_test.go
index b9e90d7c1983d..50987fb32cafd 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer_legacy/kafka_consumer_legacy_test.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/kafka_consumer_legacy/kafka_consumer_legacy_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/Shopify/sarama"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers"
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/graphite"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/json"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/testutil"
 
@@ -115,9 +116,9 @@ func TestRunParserAndGatherGraphite(t *testing.T) {
 	k.acc = &acc
 	defer close(k.done)
 
-	var err error
-	k.parser, err = parsers.NewGraphiteParser("_", []string{}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := graphite.Parser{Separator: "_", Templates: []string{}}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
+	k.parser = &p
 	go k.receiver()
 	in <- saramaMsg(testMsgGraphite)
 	acc.Wait(1)
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/statsd/statsd.go b/plugins/inputs/statsd/statsd.go
index 6e5233b0de2a0..97dca4656062c 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/statsd/statsd.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/statsd/statsd.go
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ type Statsd struct {
 	// Max duration for each metric to stay cached without being updated.
 	MaxTTL config.Duration `toml:"max_ttl"`
 
-	graphiteParser *graphite.GraphiteParser
+	graphiteParser *graphite.Parser
 
 	acc telegraf.Accumulator
 
@@ -713,7 +713,8 @@ func (s *Statsd) parseName(bucket string) (name string, field string, tags map[s
 	var err error
 
 	if p == nil || s.graphiteParser.Separator != s.MetricSeparator {
-		p, err = graphite.NewGraphiteParser(s.MetricSeparator, s.Templates, nil)
+		p = &graphite.Parser{Separator: s.MetricSeparator, Templates: s.Templates}
+		err = p.Init()
 		s.graphiteParser = p
 	}
 
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/tcp_listener/tcp_listener_test.go b/plugins/inputs/tcp_listener/tcp_listener_test.go
index 0d2d958bed0da..a9f4707a19cd5 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/tcp_listener/tcp_listener_test.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/tcp_listener/tcp_listener_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers"
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/graphite"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/json"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/testutil"
 )
@@ -293,9 +294,9 @@ func TestRunParserGraphiteMsg(t *testing.T) {
 	listener.acc = &acc
 	defer close(listener.done)
 
-	var err error
-	listener.parser, err = parsers.NewGraphiteParser("_", []string{}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := graphite.Parser{Separator: "_", Templates: []string{}}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
+	listener.parser = &p
 	listener.wg.Add(1)
 	go listener.tcpParser()
 
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/all/all.go b/plugins/parsers/all/all.go
index 0943ded6f5e01..b953730713bc3 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/all/all.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/all/all.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/collectd"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/csv"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/form_urlencoded"
+	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/graphite"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/json"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/json_v2"
 	_ "github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/value"
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser.go b/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser.go
index 954424cefcbc4..9490ea8c6f6af 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/internal/templating"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/metric"
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers"
 )
 
 // Minimum and maximum supported dates for timestamps.
@@ -20,45 +21,34 @@ var (
 	MaxDate = time.Date(2038, 1, 19, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 )
 
-type GraphiteParser struct {
-	Separator      string
-	Templates      []string
-	DefaultTags    map[string]string
-	templateEngine *templating.Engine
-}
+type Parser struct {
+	Separator   string            `toml:"separator"`
+	Templates   []string          `toml:"templates"`
+	DefaultTags map[string]string ` toml:"-"`
 
-func (p *GraphiteParser) SetDefaultTags(tags map[string]string) {
-	p.DefaultTags = tags
+	templateEngine *templating.Engine
 }
 
-func NewGraphiteParser(
-	separator string,
-	templates []string,
-	defaultTags map[string]string,
-) (*GraphiteParser, error) {
-	var err error
-
-	if separator == "" {
-		separator = DefaultSeparator
-	}
-	p := &GraphiteParser{
-		Separator: separator,
-		Templates: templates,
+func (p *Parser) Init() error {
+	// Set defaults
+	if p.Separator == "" {
+		p.Separator = DefaultSeparator
 	}
 
-	if defaultTags != nil {
-		p.DefaultTags = defaultTags
+	defaultTemplate, err := templating.NewDefaultTemplateWithPattern("measurement*")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating template failed: %w", err)
 	}
-	defaultTemplate, _ := templating.NewDefaultTemplateWithPattern("measurement*")
-	p.templateEngine, err = templating.NewEngine(p.Separator, defaultTemplate, p.Templates)
 
+	p.templateEngine, err = templating.NewEngine(p.Separator, defaultTemplate, p.Templates)
 	if err != nil {
-		return p, fmt.Errorf("exec input parser config is error: %s ", err.Error())
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating template engine failed: %w ", err)
 	}
-	return p, nil
+
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (p *GraphiteParser) Parse(buf []byte) ([]telegraf.Metric, error) {
+func (p *Parser) Parse(buf []byte) ([]telegraf.Metric, error) {
 	// parse even if the buffer begins with a newline
 	if len(buf) != 0 && buf[0] == '\n' {
 		buf = buf[1:]
@@ -95,7 +85,7 @@ func (p *GraphiteParser) Parse(buf []byte) ([]telegraf.Metric, error) {
 }
 
 // ParseLine performs Graphite parsing of a single line.
-func (p *GraphiteParser) ParseLine(line string) (telegraf.Metric, error) {
+func (p *Parser) ParseLine(line string) (telegraf.Metric, error) {
 	// Break into 3 fields (name, value, timestamp).
 	fields := strings.Fields(line)
 	if len(fields) != 2 && len(fields) != 3 {
@@ -178,7 +168,8 @@ func (p *GraphiteParser) ParseLine(line string) (telegraf.Metric, error) {
 
 // ApplyTemplate extracts the template fields from the given line and
 // returns the measurement name and tags.
-func (p *GraphiteParser) ApplyTemplate(line string) (string, map[string]string, string, error) {
+//nolint:revive // This function should be eliminated anyway
+func (p *Parser) ApplyTemplate(line string) (string, map[string]string, string, error) {
 	// Break line into fields (name, value, timestamp), only name is used
 	fields := strings.Fields(line)
 	if len(fields) == 0 {
@@ -196,3 +187,19 @@ func (p *GraphiteParser) ApplyTemplate(line string) (string, map[string]string,
 
 	return name, tags, field, err
 }
+
+func (p *Parser) SetDefaultTags(tags map[string]string) {
+	p.DefaultTags = tags
+}
+
+func init() {
+	parsers.Add("graphite", func(_ string) telegraf.Parser { return &Parser{} })
+}
+
+func (p *Parser) InitFromConfig(config *parsers.Config) error {
+	p.Templates = append(p.Templates, config.Templates...)
+	p.Separator = config.Separator
+	p.DefaultTags = config.DefaultTags
+
+	return p.Init()
+}
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser_test.go b/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser_test.go
index b08f7cd0ec9c6..bb42ec937e675 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser_test.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/graphite/parser_test.go
@@ -14,20 +14,20 @@ import (
 )
 
 func BenchmarkParse(b *testing.B) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_", []string{
-		"*.* .wrong.measurement*",
-		"servers.* .host.measurement*",
-		"servers.localhost .host.measurement*",
-		"*.localhost .host.measurement*",
-		"*.*.cpu .host.measurement*",
-		"a.b.c .host.measurement*",
-		"influxd.*.foo .host.measurement*",
-		"prod.*.mem .host.measurement*",
-	}, nil)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		b.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{
+			"*.* .wrong.measurement*",
+			"servers.* .host.measurement*",
+			"servers.localhost .host.measurement*",
+			"*.localhost .host.measurement*",
+			"*.*.cpu .host.measurement*",
+			"a.b.c .host.measurement*",
+			"influxd.*.foo .host.measurement*",
+			"prod.*.mem .host.measurement*",
+		},
 	}
+	require.NoError(b, p.Init())
 
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 		_, err := p.Parse([]byte("servers.localhost.cpu.load 11 1435077219"))
@@ -122,34 +122,24 @@ func TestTemplateApply(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		tmpl, err := templating.NewDefaultTemplateWithPattern(test.template)
-		if errstr(err) != test.err {
-			t.Fatalf("err does not match.  expected %v, got %v", test.err, err)
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			// If we erred out,it was intended and the following tests won't work
+		if test.err != "" {
+			require.EqualError(t, err, test.err)
 			continue
 		}
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		measurement, tags, _, _ := tmpl.Apply(test.input, DefaultSeparator)
-		if measurement != test.measurement {
-			t.Fatalf("name parse failer.  expected %v, got %v", test.measurement, measurement)
-		}
-		if len(tags) != len(test.tags) {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected number of tags.  expected %v, got %v", test.tags, tags)
-		}
+		require.Equal(t, test.measurement, measurement)
+		require.Len(t, tags, len(test.tags))
 		for k, v := range test.tags {
-			if tags[k] != v {
-				t.Fatalf("unexpected tag value for tags[%s].  expected %q, got %q", k, v, tags[k])
-			}
+			require.Equal(t, v, tags[k])
 		}
 	}
 }
 
 func TestParseMissingMeasurement(t *testing.T) {
-	_, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"a.b.c"}, nil)
-	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatalf("expected error creating parser, got nil")
-	}
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"a.b.c"}}
+	require.Error(t, p.Init())
 }
 
 func TestParseLine(t *testing.T) {
@@ -281,19 +271,16 @@ func TestParseLine(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{test.template}, nil)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating graphite parser: %v", err)
-		}
+		p := Parser{Templates: []string{test.template}}
+		require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 		m, err := p.ParseLine(test.input)
-		if errstr(err) != test.err {
-			t.Fatalf("err does not match.  expected %v, got %v", test.err, err)
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			// If we erred out,it was intended and the following tests won't work
+		if test.err != "" {
+			require.EqualError(t, err, test.err)
 			continue
 		}
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
 		if m.Name() != test.measurement {
 			t.Fatalf("name parse failer.  expected %v, got %v",
 				test.measurement, m.Name())
@@ -396,19 +383,16 @@ func TestParse(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{test.template}, nil)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating graphite parser: %v", err)
-		}
+		p := Parser{Templates: []string{test.template}}
+		require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 		metrics, err := p.Parse(test.input)
-		if errstr(err) != test.err {
-			t.Fatalf("err does not match.  expected [%v], got [%v]", test.err, err)
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			// If we erred out,it was intended and the following tests won't work
+		if test.err != "" {
+			require.EqualError(t, err, test.err)
 			continue
 		}
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
 		if metrics[0].Name() != test.measurement {
 			t.Fatalf("name parse failer.  expected %v, got %v",
 				test.measurement, metrics[0].Name())
@@ -430,8 +414,8 @@ func TestParse(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestParseNaN(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"measurement*"}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"measurement*"}}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	m, err := p.ParseLine("servers.localhost.cpu_load NaN 1435077219")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -449,8 +433,8 @@ func TestParseNaN(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestParseInf(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"measurement*"}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"measurement*"}}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	m, err := p.ParseLine("servers.localhost.cpu_load +Inf 1435077219")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -468,10 +452,8 @@ func TestParseInf(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchDefault(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"}, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
-	}
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"}}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("miss.servers.localhost.cpu_load",
 		map[string]string{},
@@ -485,10 +467,10 @@ func TestFilterMatchDefault(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchMultipleMeasurement(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement.measurement*"}, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Templates: []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement.measurement*"},
 	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("cpu.cpu_load.10",
 		map[string]string{"host": "localhost"},
@@ -502,11 +484,11 @@ func TestFilterMatchMultipleMeasurement(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchMultipleMeasurementSeparator(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement.measurement*"},
-		nil,
-	)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement.measurement*"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("cpu_cpu_load_10",
 		map[string]string{"host": "localhost"},
@@ -520,10 +502,8 @@ func TestFilterMatchMultipleMeasurementSeparator(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchSingle(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"}, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
-	}
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"}}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("cpu_load",
 		map[string]string{"host": "localhost"},
@@ -537,10 +517,10 @@ func TestFilterMatchSingle(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestParseNoMatch(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.*.cpu .host.measurement.cpu.measurement"}, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Templates: []string{"servers.*.cpu .host.measurement.cpu.measurement"},
 	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("servers.localhost.memory.VmallocChunk",
 		map[string]string{},
@@ -554,10 +534,8 @@ func TestParseNoMatch(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchWildcard(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.* .host.measurement*"}, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
-	}
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"servers.* .host.measurement*"}}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("cpu_load",
 		map[string]string{"host": "localhost"},
@@ -571,12 +549,12 @@ func TestFilterMatchWildcard(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchExactBeforeWildcard(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{
-		"servers.* .wrong.measurement*",
-		"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"}, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Templates: []string{
+			"servers.* .wrong.measurement*",
+			"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"},
 	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("cpu_load",
 		map[string]string{"host": "localhost"},
@@ -590,17 +568,16 @@ func TestFilterMatchExactBeforeWildcard(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchMostLongestFilter(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{
-		"*.* .wrong.measurement*",
-		"servers.* .wrong.measurement*",
-		"servers.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
-		"servers.localhost.cpu .host.resource.measurement*", // should match this
-		"*.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
-	}, nil)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Templates: []string{
+			"*.* .wrong.measurement*",
+			"servers.* .wrong.measurement*",
+			"servers.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
+			"servers.localhost.cpu .host.resource.measurement*", // should match this
+			"*.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
+		},
 	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	m, err := p.ParseLine("servers.localhost.cpu.cpu_load 11 1435077219")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -615,16 +592,15 @@ func TestFilterMatchMostLongestFilter(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFilterMatchMultipleWildcards(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{
-		"*.* .wrong.measurement*",
-		"servers.* .host.measurement*", // should match this
-		"servers.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
-		"*.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
-	}, nil)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Templates: []string{
+			"*.* .wrong.measurement*",
+			"servers.* .host.measurement*", // should match this
+			"servers.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
+			"*.localhost .wrong.measurement*",
+		},
 	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	exp := metric.New("cpu_load",
 		map[string]string{"host": "server01"},
@@ -638,14 +614,14 @@ func TestFilterMatchMultipleWildcards(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestParseDefaultTags(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"}, map[string]string{
-		"region": "us-east",
-		"zone":   "1c",
-		"host":   "should not set",
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
-	}
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement*"}}
+	p.SetDefaultTags(
+		map[string]string{
+			"region": "us-east",
+			"zone":   "1c",
+			"host":   "should not set",
+		})
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	m, err := p.ParseLine("servers.localhost.cpu_load 11 1435077219")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -664,13 +640,13 @@ func TestParseDefaultTags(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestParseDefaultTemplateTags(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement* zone=1c"}, map[string]string{
-		"region": "us-east",
-		"host":   "should not set",
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
-	}
+	p := Parser{Templates: []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement* zone=1c"}}
+	p.SetDefaultTags(
+		map[string]string{
+			"region": "us-east",
+			"host":   "should not set",
+		})
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	m, err := p.ParseLine("servers.localhost.cpu_load 11 1435077219")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -689,16 +665,19 @@ func TestParseDefaultTemplateTags(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestParseDefaultTemplateTagsOverridGlobal(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("", []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement* zone=1c,region=us-east"}, map[string]string{
-		"region": "shot not be set",
-		"host":   "should not set",
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "",
+		Templates: []string{"servers.localhost .host.measurement* zone=1c,region=us-east"},
 	}
+	p.SetDefaultTags(
+		map[string]string{
+			"region": "shot not be set",
+			"host":   "should not set",
+		},
+	)
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	m, err := p.ParseLine("servers.localhost.cpu_load 11 1435077219")
-	_ = m
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	value, ok := m.GetTag("host")
@@ -715,15 +694,17 @@ func TestParseDefaultTemplateTagsOverridGlobal(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestParseTemplateWhitespace(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("",
-		[]string{"servers.localhost        .host.measurement*           zone=1c"},
+	p := Parser{
+		Templates: []string{
+			"servers.localhost        .host.measurement*           zone=1c",
+		},
+	}
+	p.SetDefaultTags(
 		map[string]string{
 			"region": "us-east",
 			"host":   "should not set",
 		})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("unexpected error creating parser, got %v", err)
-	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	m, err := p.ParseLine("servers.localhost.cpu_load 11 1435077219")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -743,10 +724,11 @@ func TestParseTemplateWhitespace(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Test basic functionality of ApplyTemplate
 func TestApplyTemplate(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{"current.* measurement.measurement"},
-		nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{"current.* measurement.measurement"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, _, _, err := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -755,10 +737,11 @@ func TestApplyTemplate(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Test basic functionality of ApplyTemplate
 func TestApplyTemplateNoMatch(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser(".",
-		[]string{"foo.bar measurement.measurement"},
-		nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: ".",
+		Templates: []string{"foo.bar measurement.measurement"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, _, _, err := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -767,12 +750,14 @@ func TestApplyTemplateNoMatch(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Test that most specific template is chosen
 func TestApplyTemplateSpecific(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{
 			"current.* measurement.measurement",
 			"current.*.* measurement.measurement.service",
-		}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+		},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, tags, _, _ := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users.facebook")
 	require.Equal(t, "current_users", measurement)
@@ -787,9 +772,11 @@ func TestApplyTemplateSpecific(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestApplyTemplateTags(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{"current.* measurement.measurement region=us-west"}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{"current.* measurement.measurement region=us-west"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, tags, _, _ := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users")
 	require.Equal(t, "current_users", measurement)
@@ -804,9 +791,11 @@ func TestApplyTemplateTags(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestApplyTemplateField(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field"}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, _, field, err := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users.logged_in")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -819,9 +808,11 @@ func TestApplyTemplateField(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestApplyTemplateMultipleFieldsTogether(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field.field"}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field.field"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, _, field, err := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users.logged_in.ssh")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -834,9 +825,11 @@ func TestApplyTemplateMultipleFieldsTogether(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestApplyTemplateMultipleFieldsApart(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field.method.field"}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field.method.field"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, _, field, err := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users.logged_in.ssh.total")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -849,9 +842,11 @@ func TestApplyTemplateMultipleFieldsApart(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestApplyTemplateGreedyField(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser("_",
-		[]string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field*"}, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: "_",
+		Templates: []string{"current.* measurement.measurement.field*"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, _, field, err := p.ApplyTemplate("current.users.logged_in")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -864,54 +859,36 @@ func TestApplyTemplateGreedyField(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestApplyTemplateOverSpecific(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser(
-		".",
-		[]string{
-			"measurement.host.metric.metric.metric",
-		},
-		nil,
-	)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: ".",
+		Templates: []string{"measurement.host.metric.metric.metric"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, tags, _, err := p.ApplyTemplate("net.server001.a.b 2")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "net", measurement)
-	require.Equal(t,
-		map[string]string{"host": "server001", "metric": "a.b"},
-		tags)
+	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{"host": "server001", "metric": "a.b"}, tags)
 }
 
 func TestApplyTemplateMostSpecificTemplate(t *testing.T) {
-	p, err := NewGraphiteParser(
-		".",
-		[]string{
+	p := Parser{
+		Separator: ".",
+		Templates: []string{
 			"measurement.host.metric",
 			"measurement.host.metric.metric.metric",
 			"measurement.host.metric.metric",
 		},
-		nil,
-	)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, p.Init())
 
 	measurement, tags, _, err := p.ApplyTemplate("net.server001.a.b.c 2")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "net", measurement)
-	require.Equal(t,
-		map[string]string{"host": "server001", "metric": "a.b.c"},
-		tags)
+	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{"host": "server001", "metric": "a.b.c"}, tags)
 
 	measurement, tags, _, err = p.ApplyTemplate("net.server001.a.b 2")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "net", measurement)
-	require.Equal(t,
-		map[string]string{"host": "server001", "metric": "a.b"},
-		tags)
-}
-
-// Test Helpers
-func errstr(err error) string {
-	if err != nil {
-		return err.Error()
-	}
-	return ""
+	require.Equal(t, map[string]string{"host": "server001", "metric": "a.b"}, tags)
 }
diff --git a/plugins/parsers/registry.go b/plugins/parsers/registry.go
index fd2fc497d358a..59603bdbdc984 100644
--- a/plugins/parsers/registry.go
+++ b/plugins/parsers/registry.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/dropwizard"
-	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/graphite"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/grok"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/influx"
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/plugins/parsers/influx/influx_upstream"
@@ -209,9 +208,6 @@ func NewParser(config *Config) (Parser, error) {
 		}
 	case "nagios":
 		parser, err = NewNagiosParser()
-	case "graphite":
-		parser, err = NewGraphiteParser(config.Separator,
-			config.Templates, config.DefaultTags)
 	case "dropwizard":
 		parser, err = NewDropwizardParser(
 			config.DropwizardMetricRegistryPath,
@@ -289,14 +285,6 @@ func NewInfluxUpstreamParser() (Parser, error) {
 	return influx_upstream.NewParser(), nil
 }
 
-func NewGraphiteParser(
-	separator string,
-	templates []string,
-	defaultTags map[string]string,
-) (Parser, error) {
-	return graphite.NewGraphiteParser(separator, templates, defaultTags)
-}
-
 func NewDropwizardParser(
 	metricRegistryPath string,
 	timePath string,